Hi,

Just a topic that's cropped up recently owing to a conversation with a friend of mine..

In terms of online harrassment I'm well aware of the ways to track and report emails that aren't welcome from individuals but I'd appreciate some information on what options are available in terms of Mobile phone and landline abuse...

The sort of thing I'm referring to is constant texting, number withheld calls that are just hung-up, etc...


From what little I remember it's possible to get BT to put a trace on the line and to access their logs on such nuisance calls and I know that it's generally advisable to keep a log of any such calls so it's easy to spot when they're coming in, etc...

In terms of the mobile phone people, I'm assuming something similar is possible... especially with the new stalker laws that have recently been passed.


Anyways, anyone with a definitive answer on any of this or resources I could check up on... The sooner the better..

Thanks :)

The BBC has a good site on this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/support/maliciousphonecalls.shtml

with links to BT, NTL and Telewest malicious call offices. Cant see mobile providers listed, but I'm sure if you call the customer support line for the mobile phone company concerned, they will point you in right direction....

Page on stalking is here :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/support/stalking.shtml

Finally, here is document that the Home Office has produced for those investigating stalking. Designed for professionals by looks of things, but has loads of info and resources listed, and what they can do :

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/stalking.pdf

Best of luck

Rudi

It might be helpful to know that some of the calls your friend is receiving may be companies cold calling. These highly unprofessional businesses are using a computer to call numbers on a database at random.
The numbers are called over and over again.
Now here's the annoying bit.
When you pick up the phone (or your friend) it goes dead if there isn't a member of staff to connect to at the call centre.
This practice should be highly illegal because it causes distress.

My advice is that the only way to stop it is to scream at them and tell them to #### off whenever you get ANY cold callers. If everyone did that, the cold calling industry would go bust.

This might not be helpful if your friend is having genuine problems... but it might put minds at rest.

If texts are sent to a mobile phone... store them as evidence and take them to the police.

I had problems last year with a holiday company calling me up to 50 times a day. I have a rather unusual answer machine message and they had obviously stumbled accross it whilst cold calling. If we didn't answer they would listen and hang up at first. Then it got that they started leaving rude and then abusive messages. I have 2 kids and ovbiously didn't want them hearing what they were saying. All the numbers were with held so I contacted BT. They put me through to their nuisance call bureau (sp) who advised me to do this : When the phone rang I was to answer it as normal, but before saying anything, press any button so it beeped, then advise the caller that because of abusive calls, their call was now being traced by the police and anything they said was being recorded! It worked!! Some young girl from the same company rang me, panicked and gave me their head office number!! I called it, spoke to the manager who then looked through the call logs and found out who it was who had been calling. It was 3 young students who had been calling to listen to the answerphone and getting all their mates to listen. He put them on the phone and I made them apologise to me. (after b**licking them big time first!)I had a bit of fun as they were in a loud, obviously busy office and I got them to say some really silly, grovelling things, really loud in front if everyone!! Made me laugh anyway!! The calls stopped after that funnily enough!!

My advice is that the only way to stop it is to scream at them and tell them to #### off whenever you get ANY cold callers. If everyone did that, the cold calling industry would go bust

Or alternatively you can register with the Telephone Preference Service - it works for me :)

TPS (http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/)

Click on the URL then click on Anonymous Call Reject on left hand side.

http://www.bt.com/bttext/faq.html

Choose to refuse is also an extra option you could look into.

These features cost extra. :(

However, if you have more than 1 extra feature, it is discounted but I am not sure how it works.

Originally posted by Siân
Or alternatively you can register with the Telephone Preference Service - it works for me :)

TPS (http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/)

Have looked at this site and will register - FREE - unlike BT. Thanks!:thumbsup:

Answer the call then walk away from the phone for some time. Let them pay for the lengthy call.
If they hang up then they cannot dial out again as you are still there.

This usually makes me feel better.

You can register your number with the telephone preference service.

http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/

If you get calls after that the companies will be prosecuted as they know not to call you.